The 52-minute meeting also touched upon human trafficking and conflict resolution.

President Barack Obama meets with Pope Francis March 27 at the Vatican. Their historic first meeting comes as Obama’s administration and the Church remain sharply divided on issues of abortion, contraception and same-sex ‘marriage.’

– AP photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis discussed the right to religious freedom, life, conscientious objection and conflict resolution with President Barack Obama today.

The 52-minute meeting in the library of the apostolic palace was “cordial,” the Vatican said in a statement, and views were exchanged “on some current international themes.”

“In the context of bilateral relations and cooperation between church and state, there was a discussion on questions of particular relevance of the Church in that country, such as the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection, as well as the issue of immigration reform,” the statement said.

It also said it was “hoped that, in areas of conflict, there would be respect for humanitarian and international law and a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” but it did not specify any particular conflicts.

Finally, it concluded, “the common commitment to the eradication of trafficking of human persons in the world was stated.”

A ‘Great Admirer’

On meeting the Holy Father for the first time, Obama said: “How are you? Wonderful meeting you; thank you so much for receiving me.” The president said it was a “great honor” to meet Pope Francis, adding that he is a “great admirer.”

The president also extended the greetings of his family, observing, “The last time I came to meet your predecessor, I was able to bring my wife and children.” Obama met with Pope Benedict XVI in July 2009.

The cornerstone of the Baltimore basilica, the White House pointed out, was laid by John Carroll, a Jesuit and the first Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States.

The seeds, which will produce fruits and vegetables, were chosen in celebration of the recent opening to the public of the Pontifical Gardens at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. The gift, the White House said, “honors the commitment of Your Holiness to sow the seeds of global peace for future generations.”

In addition, the White House said a private donation of seeds “will be given to a charity in honor of Your Holiness,” and they will “yield several tons of fresh produce.”

Presenting the seeds to the Pope, Obama explained that each box contained a different seed. If the Pope “had the chance to come to the White House,” he could see the garden for himself, Obama added. Francis replied in Spanish: “Why not?”

For his part, Pope Francis presented the president with two bronze medals. One, called the “Medallion With an Angel — Solidarity and Peace,” depicts an angel, mystical in appearance, embracing and bringing together the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth, while overcoming the opposition of a dragon.

“The figure of the angel illustrates contemporary challenges: bringing the world’s northern and southern regions together and harmonizing them, while combating all disruptive forces, such as exploitation, intransigent opposition, new forms of colonialism, indifference, mistrust and prejudice,” the Vatican explained in an accompanying note.

The second medal commemorates the 1657 laying of the first stone of the north colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica, the one nearest the apostolic palace. “The medal bears witness to the original project of Bernini, which provided for a third colonnade, never built, which would have enclosed the square,” the Vatican said.

Presidential Reading Material

The Pope also presented the president with a bound copy of his 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). “You know, I actually will probably read this in the Oval Office when I’m deeply frustrated,” Obama said. “I’m sure it’ll give me strength and calm me down.” The Pope simply replied: “I hope.”

In the public moments of the meeting, Pope Francis mostly had a serious demeanor and smiled little, in contrast to some of his previous and recent meetings with heads of state, although reporters present said the meeting was “good-humored.”

Among those in the presidential delegation were Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Ken Hackett.

As he left, Obama joked with the Holy Father’s interpreter, Msgr. Mark Miles, saying, “His Holiness is probably the only person who has to put up with more protocol than me.”

“Muchas gracias,” Obama said on leaving. “Please pray for me and my family. They are with me on this journey [of life], and my girls and wife have to put up with me.”

After bidding farewell, the president and his advisers met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary for Relations With States Archbishop Dominique Mamberti for talks that lasted 30 minutes.

“So nice to see you,” the president said to the senior Vatican officials. “It’s wonderful to be here.”

Comments

The Basilica has a gift shop and snack area. Maybe it’s made from one of the snack tables, or they sell the boxes, and he “reclaimed” it.

Posted by J on Saturday, Mar 29, 2014 2:32 AM (EST):

“custom-made seed chest that was made from wood reclaimed from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore”

reclaimed ? was it scraped off the benches or altar to make his seed chest?

Posted by Fred on Friday, Mar 28, 2014 9:43 PM (EST):

I was so glad to hear that the President visited Pope Francis.
Pope Francis seemed to enjoy Pres. Obama’s company, which I’d expect he would, because he a good man; both men are.

Posted by Kellyann on Friday, Mar 28, 2014 1:24 PM (EST):

@Jenny, I’m sure that your “hope” is sincere, but the reality is that the president went to spend our money on a trip. He went for a photo-op or for a favorite restaurant, or just to rub in the faces of American Catholics that he can approve of abortion AND our Pope will still see him. If the Holy Father wanted to send a message to POTUS, he should have excused himself from the meeting and not returned…....and then sent back a secretary to tell POTUS that the Pope had been called away and would not be returning. Maybe they could have pulled some weeds up from a Vatican garden and our great president away with them as a gift.
@Ruben….....it’s posts like yours that make me wish the com boxes had a “like” or ” I agree” button.

Posted by Charles on Friday, Mar 28, 2014 12:05 PM (EST):

Picking up religious material to read in a time of crisis is wonderful. I have also found that once calmed, once in a state where I’m prepared to think, focus on others and focus on truth, the religious material can help one understand what God and His Bride, the Church, is saying. Religious materials aren’t merely a crutch, they are a stepping stone to deeper understanding of the mysteries of God.

Posted by Ruben Aguilar on Friday, Mar 28, 2014 11:35 AM (EST):

Dear Miss Castillo,
Here is Webster’s definition of “class act”: (class act noun: someone who is admirable and usually very fair or polite). Do you consider President Obama admirable and fair, even though he is considered the most pro-abortion, the most anti Christian (and these very publicly), president in our history? I’ve looked this up for you, but I would suggest that you look up the definition of “judgmental”, in the Christian sense, before you use that label on others. God Bless you help you with your discernment.

Posted by jenny on Friday, Mar 28, 2014 9:55 AM (EST):

Hope that what the Pope told President Obama about religious freedom will help regain our religious freedom.

A completely contentless - and meaningless - meeting. Our smiling prevaricator-in-chief comes away with what he wanted, a photo-op with Frank, and Frank comes away with a bag full of seeds, a grumpy expression, and a lost opportunity to flay this lying little weasel alive publically. Pretty much an accurate summation of this papacy to date, a lost opportunity, eh?

Posted by DKinVA on Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 4:44 PM (EST):

I wonder if those seeds were vetted to make sure that they are non-invasive? I see them as not a gift of love to the Church, but rather a symbol of sowing the seeds of dissent and division within the Church. Seeds which Obama would have grow, not to bear good fruit, but into thorny vines which will choke the life out of the Catholic faith.

Posted by SCF on Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 3:49 PM (EST):

The article was a too general. Perhaps this was intentional. The Fox news description was much more informative. Was there any discussion about the billions of dollars the US government, under the President’s direction, spends worldwide each year to instruct developing countries that the best way to balance growth and budgets is to promote abortion and murder of the aged population ? I’ll bet not. I would like to hear more about this meeting from the Church’s point of view.

Glad to hear the Holy Father kept a serious demeanor. The photos of then archbishop Dolan laughing it up with this politician right before the 2012 election are burned into my memory.

Posted by Ceci Castillo on Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 2:21 PM (EST):

@ Turley. Both Pope Francis and President Obama are class acts so I doubt very much that Pope Francis “Put him in his place.” Unlike many so-called Catholics on this board, Pope Francis practices what he preaches and knows that you can attract more flies with honey than vinegar instead of being sooooooo judgemental and self righteous.

Posted by Kellyann on Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 1:38 PM (EST):

So it comes to this? The presidential speech writers had the big shovels out for this one. The article makes it seem as if the President greeted the Pope as if he was meeting a celebrity in Hollywood. I can’t get past the tax dollars spent on the trip so that the US could donate seeds that could have just as well been purchased at Home Depot. And the best The Holy Father could do was present a “serious demeanor”? The meeting was so pointless that it had to be reported that the Pope only smiled a little? This is a sad time for the Catholic Church. Our hopes are pinned on Jersey tomatoes growing in Rome to bring about a resolution to some serious Church issues? Maybe if they had discussed the issues.

Posted by Archon on Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 12:30 PM (EST):

The seeds were a nice touch given the president’s incessant spreading of horse manure on these occasions.

Posted by Turley 1878 on Thursday, Mar 27, 2014 11:19 AM (EST):

I’m so tired of this President constantly embarrassing this nation and ruining our reputation worldwide. How dare he condone the murder of children to Pope Francis!! He condones the disarmament of our nation and pushes to destroy our religious freedoms in our nation!!

Go Pope Francis and put him in his place!!

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